prAna Features & Highlights

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Sustainability

Just as the word “prAna” means so much more than “breath”, the idea of “sustainability”, for prAna, reaches far beyond organic fabrics, natural fibers and recycling. prAna's seva is not solely within its products. Perhaps more importantly, it lives within prAna’s tireless attempts to inspire, integrate and socialize a more caring and proactive approach to the world around us.

prAna certainly doesn't have all the answers, but it does promise to continue its search for better ways of making and doing things. It was a pledge that started prAna down this path more than 20 years ago.

The History of Hemp

prAna uses hemp fiber that comes from the Industrial hemp plant. Industrial hemp is a low-impact crop that requires much less water than cotton, has the ability to grow in various types of conditions, and needs little to no herbicides, pesticides or fertilizers.

Choose Organic Cotton

Making mindful goods means always looking for a better way to make them. prAna is on a journey to increase the amount of organic in our cotton products. Learn more about the benefits of going organic at textileexchange.org.

About prAna

prAna's roots can be traced to the most humble and authentic of origins. In 1992 Beaver Theodosakis and his wife Pam set out to create a clothing brand centered around the lifestyle they loved. They were enchanted by the simplicity and soulfulness they had found in rock climbing and yoga, so they call the company prAna—a direct reference to the Sanskrit word for breath, life, and vitality of the spirit.

The first pieces were designed and stitched in their garage in Carlsbad, California. Their designs focused on functionality and freedom of movement, creating pants, shorts, and tops that were ideal for climbing and yoga. They recycled old newspapers to create hand-made paper tags and shipped the clothing in surplus fruit boxes they collected from grocery stores. Early on, they partnered with leading athletes like rock climber Chris Sharma and master yogi Shiva Rea to collaborate on the design of clothing and forward prAna's message of health and sustainability.

To honor the meaning imbued in the name prAna, Beaver and Pam made sustainability one of the brand's core values from the beginning—always seeking to give back more than take. Despite the challenges inherent in rapid growth, prAna has continuously worked towards maintaining and adopting sustainable practices. In 2000, after attending an organic exchange conference that brought companies together with organic farmers and suppliers, they immediately switched 19 of their products to organic cotton, and today over 70 styles are made with organic cotton. In 2005, prAna launched their Natural Power Initiative and became an ambassador for wind power. They also took steps to reduce emissions in their own offices and at their retailer's stores—shedding 72,000 metric tons of greenhouse gasses, the equivalent of removing 13,000 cars from the road. Most recently, following the model of Fair Trade Certified foods, prAna has made an extensive investment to be among the first companies to bring Fair Trade Certified clothing to market.

Today, prAna creates clothing not only for rock climbers and yoga practitioners, but for anyone living a lifestyle that values health, wellness, and sustainability. In addition to providing the best yoga and climbing apparel available, prAna's line now includes jackets, button-down shirts, and denim pants that are as functional in a casual office environment as they are at the crag. They also continue to source sustainable fabrics like hemp, organic cotton, and recycled polyester with an eye turned towards ethical production. And whether you're trying on a pair of yoga pants or a summer dress, the principles of simple functionality and freedom of movement still apply. Centered by a connection to their humble roots with a vibrant vision of the future, it's clear that prAna truly is a brand "born from the experience."